Spring has sprung. Thank goodness! While the daffodils and tulips are cropping up so are a myriad of pet related activities to mark on your calendars.

As loyal readers you know that I own City Dogs Grocery and you know that we have been sponsors of Blue II for the past four years (before he was famous). We got involved because my parents are 1932 grads and I wanted to do this in their honor. Last year Butler went to the Final Four Basketball Tournament and Indianapolis went wild! At the end of the hysteria we decided impromptu to throw a Mascot Celebration. We worked hard at our end to get vendors and College Avenue Merchants to pony up with goodies, gift cards and items that we could raffle to raise money for Indiana Bulldog Rescue in Blue's and Butler's honor. While we were working so hard at planning, (Blue and others were also hard working at the effort needed to be a good mascot. . . .press parties, etc.) that no one remembered to make announcements to his fans that a party was forthcoming until only three days before. I panicked, but not too worry. This dog has an amazing Facebook page and within an instant the word was out. We had over 100 dogs attend, along with an animal communicator, a breeder with 6-week-old bulldog pups and the Indiana Bulldog Rescue from South Bend. Channel 13 News was on hand as was Hink, the big dressed mascot. Everybody got their picture taken and it was a day to behold. So. . . . . . they did it again and we are doing it again. The location is different this year. Please join us Saturday, April 16th, 2011, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at our new location at 884 Mass Ave. The parking and location is much better for everyone's convenience. You will get to meet fellow Gazette columnist Jill Ditmire who writes The Wine Scene. Her Mass Ave. Wine Shoppe is my neighbor and she will be giving all proceeds from the sale of Yard Dog Red to Face Spay Neuter Clinic, the charity and Mass Ave. neighbor we have decided to honor this year. Mass Ave. merchants have a challenge to beat out last years' College Ave. merchants in their generosity to help with donated items. College Ave. merchants were fabulous and we named each in the Gazette the following issue.

Blue II moves on with his fame and will be the Grand Marshall of the Mutt Strutt along with his friend and handler Michael Kaltenmark and Coach Brad Stevens. Now this is a really big deal taking place at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It is a dog walk around the track and is the most important fundraiser for the Humane Society of Indianapolis (Indy Humane) and takes place Sunday, May 1st. Did I say really big deal? How about 8,000 humans and 5,000 dogs last year! Pick up a copy of the quarterly Pet Book Magazine free at pet-related businesses everywhere. Tristan Schmid of Indy Humane wrote the cover story about it and there are great photos including the cover photo of the top dog Joey, a Pit Bull. Joey became the top dog because his team collected the most donations. Owned by Aaron and Nicole Heilbron, volunteers at Indy Pit Crew, they worked really hard to have him win and give positive press for Pit Bulls. They hope that Joey's win will remind people that Pit Bulls are just dogs and can be great pets. Joey was adopted at a San Diego shelter. He loves people and has received his K9 Good Citizen Certificate.

On April 22nd, 2011, there will be a big adoption event at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control which is sponsored by the North Shore Animal League called Tour for Life. It's a nationwide initiative to get communities more familiar with their local shelters. There will be food and music and lots of adoptable animals from local rescue groups as well as IACC. IACC's volunteers are trying really hard this year to make the event a success and save some lives! Wynona Judd, country musician, is the national spokesperson for Tour for Life. Indianapolis Animal Care and Control is holding the event at 2600 S. Harding St. from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.

The eighth Annual Walking for Dreams - an annual fundraising family and pet walk to help local Indianapolis non-profit organizations - is to be held on Sunday, May 22, 2011, on the Canal in downtown Indianapolis. Registration begins at 1:00 pm and the walk starts at 2:00. Walking for Dreams registration area and beginning and ending of the Walk will be at the north end of the Canal at Buggs Temple. Thanks to local corporate and individual sponsors, all checks written by participant and contributors will go directly to their selected organization and should be made payable to them. The list of organizations that are walking this event is lengthy. Go to www.walkingfordreams.org to see if the organization of your choice is walking.

If dogs aren't your thing perhaps you may be interested in the Midwest Reptile Show at the State Fairgrounds being held May 1st in the Southwest Pavilion. I may see you there.

Pets make you smile!